Here are a few images that accurately reflect the abilities
of any given camera model. The images are altered only in
terms of size and sharpness after reduction and by the JPEG
compression used. Unless otherwise mentioned, assume that
any marbling or artifacts visible in the images are due to
the compression required to display them here. We feel however,
that they still faithfully represent the results we experienced.
STILL LIFE PHOTO
This subject is photographed in a room that has a mix of fluorescent and
incandescent light, but which is not brightly lit. The camera's flash is
used to add fill light. The backdrop is 1.95 m (6.5 ft) from the camera.
As with all cameras with interchangeable lenses, much of
the image quality depends on the lens used to capture the
image.
To capture this image the 18 to 50 mm f3.5-5.6 zoom included
in the kit was used. Both this image and the telephoto shot
shown further below were captured in RAW format, then processed
using the "as-shot" settings and then saved as 8-bit
TIFF.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/60 sec.
Resolution:
3872 x 2592
Flash:
On
Quality:
—
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 8.6 MB
TIFF: 28.7 MB
Focal Length:
28.8 mm (35 mm
eq.)
While the colours the Alpha 100
produces are natural, with this lens at the wide angle end,
the equivalent of a 28.8 mm, the sharpness is clearly soft.
In addition, a slight loss of brightness can be seen in the
corners of the image, indicating that this field of view is
at the edge of the pop-up flash's coverage. To capture this
image, a flash compensation setting of + 1 EV was used.
ZOOM PHOTO
Now we zoom in on a specific area. The intent is to test the sharpness
of the image at the zoom's maximum setting. The camera remains at the same
distance as with the preceding photo.
The image captured with the same lens at its maximum telephoto,
on the other hand, shows a very good level of sharpness. Details
in the image are crisp, and the weave of the backing cloth
in the old print frame is visible, as is the printing pattern
of the photographic paper envelope in the foreground.
Colours remain consistent with those captured with the wide
angles, denoting an effective auto white balance.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/125 sec.
Resolution:
3872 x 2592
Flash:
On
Quality:
—
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 8.6 MB
TIFF: 28.7 MB
Focal Length:
112 mm (35 mm
eq.)
Aperture: f36, shutter speed: 1.3 seconds,
ISO 100, Manual mode.
PHOTO
MACRO
To capture this image, the kit lens was used at the 70 mm
setting (equivalent), with an inverted 50 mm Minolta lens
mounted on it.
The field of view captured this way is of approximately 20
mm (0.8 inch), and the inverted 50 mm lens is almost touching
the crystal of the watch. To maximize the depth of field,
an aperture of f36 is used.
The Manual mode is used to allow for a longer exposure, so
as to compensate for the small amount of light reaching the
subject.
BUILDING PHOTO
This image
is our "outdoor" test. The architecture of the building,
in particular the angled girders, immediately show the presence
of jaggies.
The shadowed entrance can also often reveal the quality of the exposure.
The presence of snow forced the use of +1.3 EV of exposure
compensation to ensure that details of the shadow areas are
captured.
The resulting image has natural and accurate colours. The
kit lens — 18 to 70 mm — is used to capture the
image, and with it set to the widest angle, there is no visible
barrel distortion.
Photo
Information
Format:
RAW
Aperture:
f10
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/100
Resolution:
3872 x 2592
Flash:
Off
Quality:
—
ISO:
100
File Size:
RAW: 11.9 MB
TIFF: 28.7 MB
Focal Length:
28.8 mm (35 mm eq.)
A slight chromatic aberration is
detectable on the edges of contrasting areas, but more notable
is the overall softness of the image, even with the use of an
f10 aperture.
ZOOM PHOTO
Zooming in on the entrance of the building, the
shadowed entrance takes on a greater importance for the metering
and can cause an overexposure of sections that are directly
lit.
This zoom shot is captured with the other kit lens, 70 to
300 mm zoom. The value of the Super SteadyShot stabilization
system is clear with this image, captured at the maximum telephoto
setting — equivalent to a 480 mm — and at a shutter
speed of 1/80 second.
Noise is undetectable, colour rendition is excellent, and
there is no visible pincushion distortion.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f5.6
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/80 sec.
Resolution:
3872 x 2592
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Fine
ISO:
100
File Size:
2.2 MB
Focal Length:
480 mm (35 mm eq.)
The metering is very precise, yielding
details in both high and low light areas of the image. Worth
noting, the D-R+ setting of the D-Range optimizer was
used.
NIGHT PHOTO
This camera is capable of long exposures, and a photo
taken at night is presented here to give an idea of its capabilities.
Aperture: f6.3; shutter
speed: 8 sec, 100 ISO, 112 mm (35 mm eq.).
The flexibility offered by a camera
such as the Alpha 100 is essential to obtain good night time
images. It even offers an unlimited Bulb mode, albeit its
use requires the optional remote control.
With this subject, however, the Bulb mode is unnecessary,
as an exposure time of 8 seconds at the lowest sensitivity
setting of 100 ISO is sufficient to capture a bright and detailed
image.
The length of the exposure
is sufficient to reveal details, as well as colours, that
could not be perceived with the naked eye.
Worth noting, the image shows no trace of noise, however,
the noise reduction process does soften the overall image
sharpness slightly.
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Test Photos
